This will most likely go over the heads of some of the newer members here, but I suggest that you read this all the same.

It's now been a little over three years since a good friend of mine, and a member of this board, FinnHiggins took his own life after what can only be described as a tragic series of events and failures in care.

Finn was a well-respected musician and most of all a fine, intelligent and honest human being. His posts here are what we have left of his memory, but for his friends his memory is a more vivid one, of a character whose very being left a positive and joyous impression upon everyone he met.

So I want everybody to take a second to just consider those who might be struggling with themselves or others. Who might be harbouring unhealthy feelings and most of all learn from the mistakes that have been made in the past to prevent anything like this happening to those of whom we hold dearest.

Finn was IMO this forum's most intelligent poster and remarkably articulate. Using the search engine to find his old posts is worth at least an hour of your time. During his DW prime (2005-2006) he set the thought bar very, very high. He was also a skilled debater who didn't tolerate fools. For example, he would have rightfully mocked this all opinions are the same nonsense and handed your butt to you in the process while never cursing or demonstrating outward hostility.

As I've said before, behavior on this forum was different back then. Five years ago we used to push the envelope a lot more but it wasn't so personal, nor did the other guy take a thoughtful disagreement personally. In fact I believe one of the reasons you see these passive aggressive sniping types around now is because guys like Finn aren't around to set them straight.

That's not to say there weren't feuds /and yes Finn was in the middle of some classics/ but the issues were always about the music and little else. There were also ground rules because Finn and those who surrounded him understood that a debate or even a disagreement wasn't always a fight, nor is one a snob simply because he chooses to use words in the proper way or possesses the willingness to challenge. And honestly, I miss that around here.

One of the great regrets of my life centered around a really nasty exchange I had with him /on another forum/ just months before he died. In his usual style he went after something I was directly involved in and I overreacted, while forgetting to respect his hunger for a good debate. I said some pretty crappy things to him and we never spoke again. I've wanted to take all that back for the past three years, while the whole thing taught me some very tough lessons that I won't soon forget.

I love it that he went into bat for both Billy Cobham and Meg White - and with comments that rang true to me. Always good to have people who can hit the spot like that.

RIP Finn

I loved his perspectives on the first 3 or 4 pages of the Mike Portnoy thread. Those posts were also a great example of his deflective debating style. He used to drive all those oh yeah, well...but, and says you people nuts when they would try to insult him and he would just continue to state his case as if he hadn't noticed.

I loved his perspectives on the first 3 or 4 pages of the Mike Portnoy thread. Those posts were also a great example of his deflective debating style. He used to drive all those oh yeah, well...but, and says you people nuts when they would try to insult him and he would just continue to state his case as if he hadn't noticed.

Just had a look at that thread - "It would be quite easy to argue that fusion is just pornificiation (my word!) of jazz and prog chops"

+1, a shame indeed. This was shocking news to say the least but I guess you never know people you interact with physically everyday as well as you think you do, and you know much much less about someone just through internet forums.

+1, a shame indeed. This was shocking news to say the least but I guess you never know people you interact with physically everyday as well as you think you do, and you know much much less about someone just through internet forums.

I was thinking about that the other day. I contribute to several boards on a regular basis, and if something happened to me, no one would know why I disappeared. yikes